Research Data Specialist

Job Summary

The Language and Brain Development Laboratory under the direction of Dr. Ioulia Kovelman seeks a Research Data Specialist I to support research on the neural foundations of language and literacy development in children.

The Language and Brain Development Laboratory studies how bilingual and monolingual children learn language by combining behavioral methods with neuroimaging techniques, including functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The successful candidate will assist with the analysis of neuroimaging datasets and contribute to the development of MATLAB-based analysis tools that incorporate large language models (LLMs) and machine learning approaches to support research on language and brain development.

This position is well-suited for individuals interested in cognitive neuroscience, quantitative research, and computational methods, including those planning future graduate study. It provides an opportunity to gain hands‑on experience at the intersection of computational methods, AI, and developmental cognitive neuroscience.

This is an NIH grant‑funded position, and continued employment is contingent upon the availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

Bachelor's degree with six months of experience in a related field. An equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience may be considered.

• Bachelor's degree in neuroscience, psychology, computer science, engineering, data science, or a related field
• Experience with MATLAB programming for two or more years is preferred
• Experience with neuroimaging data analysis (fNIRS, MEG, EEG, or MRI)
• Familiarity with machine learning or large language model tools
• Interest in language development, cognition, or neuroscience

To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

• Assist with preprocessing and analysis of fNIRS data
• Develop and maintain MATLAB-based analysis scripts and pipelines
• Support computational approaches that integrate neural, linguistic, and behavioral data
• Assist with data organization, documentation, and reproducible research practices
• Collaborate with faculty, graduate students, and research staff on ongoing projects
• Prepare figures, summaries, and analysis outputs for research reports and publications
• Other duties as assigned

• Strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment
• Proficiency in MATLAB scripting and pipeline development
• Familiarity with Python for data processing (Num Py, pandas, scikit-learn)
• Experience with LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Hugging Face)
• Familiarity with transformer-based models
• Experience extracting linguistic features from LLM embeddings or outputs
• Interest in applying LLMs to cognitive or neuroscientific research questions
• Experience with neuroimaging data (fNIRS, fMRI, or EEG)
• Ability to manage and document large datasets consistently
• Collaborative team player in interdisciplinary research settings
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Self‑motivated and able to work independently

Work will be performed on‑site and in person.

1) All employees serve as a representative of the University and are expected to display respect, civility, professional courtesy, consideration of others and discretion in all interactions with members of the UT Dallas community and the general public.
2) The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment that is welcoming, respectful, and inclusive of all members of the university community. UT Dallas does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its services, programs, activities, employment, and education, including in admission and enrollment.

The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request reasonable accommodation in the employment application and interview process, contact the ADA Coordinator. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, contact the Title IX Coordinator.